Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player in MLB history to have 60 stolen bases and 30 home runs in the same season during the Atlanta Braves’ 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Braves star accomplished the feat in stunning fashion by hitting a grand slam in the second inning of Thursday’s game to make it 5-1.
Acuna also became the first player in history to have at least two seasons of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases before the age of 25.
The duo, Jose Canseco in 1988, Barry Bonds in 1996, Alex Rodriguez in 1998, and Alfonso Soriano in 2006, achieved the 40-40 double.
In 1986, Rickey Henderson had 28 home runs and 87 steals with the New York Yankees.
Four years later, he had 28 homers and 65 steals with the Oakland A’s. He was America’s most valuable player that year.
Austin Riley and Michael Harris each hit solo home runs to increase the Braves’ lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Mookie Betts closed the gap with his 37th home run of the season, good for three runs. Betts’ long ball allowed him to reach the 250 career mark.
Betts added more in the bottom of the seventh with his second long ball of the game to make it 8-6 in Atlanta’s favor.
The Dodgers star also hit his 51st hit in August. This is the record for the most hits in one month by a Dodgers player.
Max Muncy in turn hit a home run to bring the game back to one point, but the Braves held on and won 8 to 7.
Dodgers outfielder Lance Lynn has now allowed 37 home runs since the start of the season, a Major League Baseball record.
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